Public Health Nurse

Calling all Nurses!

Check out this Public Health Opportunity!
La Crosse County Health Department has an opportunity in Public Health Nursing to care for patients and provide preventative nursing care.

Embrace a full-time position with a work schedule that allows for work-life balance. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment and offer the opportunity to become part of an organization that values all team members and respects diversity.

Pay Range: $34.07 - $39.50/hr

We offer:
A supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
Ample opportunities for career learning, development, and growth.
A culture of respect, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
The chance to serve your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
In addition, we provide excellent benefits, including:
The Wisconsin Retirement System
Great health insurance
Comprehensive dental coverage
Life insurance with disability options
Essential Job Functions
Demonstrates self-leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.

Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open-minded thinking.

Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change and emotional intelligence.

Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.

Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.

Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships.

Tasks will note Public Health Competencies as follows:
The competency level for this position is Tier 1 – Front Line Staff/Entry Level.

Analytical/Assessment Skills
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
Communication Skills
Cultural Competency Skills
Community of Dimensions of Practice Skills
Public Health Sciences Skills
Financial Planning and Management Skills
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
Note: 10 Essential Services of Public Health categories will serve as headings (shown in bold).

Assess and Monitor Population Health Status, Factors that Influence Health, and Community Needs and Assets: Contributes to assessments of community health status and factors influencing health in a community; participates in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining and disseminating community health-related data and information; assesses needs pertinent to the health of individuals, families, populations or communities; makes evidence-based decisions using data; applies ethical principles on the use of data; advocate for the use of evidence. (1)

Investigate, Diagnose, and Address Health Problems and Hazards Affecting the Population: participates in response efforts to identify, prevent, minimize, and contain adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases; food, water and vector-borne outbreaks; chronic diseases; environmental hazards; injuries; and health disparities. (3,4,5,6,8)

Communicate Effectively to Inform and Educate People about Health: makes presentations to community, academic groups or policy makers (ie-HHS Board) on public health related issues. (3,4)

Strengthen, Support, and Mobilize Communities and Partnerships to Improve Health: Collaborates with other community partners in the planning and implementation of evidence-based public health programs; participates in and at times leads local and regional coalition efforts; assists with research, data collection, writing and evaluation of contracts and grants; works effectively within a team structure. (2,3,6,8)

Create, Champion, and Implement Policies, Plans and Laws that Impact Health: Contributes to development and implementation of policies, programs and services, including program goals and objectives; collaborates in the development of evidence-based public health nursing practices and programs in collaboration with community and state partners (ie-universities, businesses); engages with creation and implementation of the organizational Strategic Plan and Community Health Improvement Plan; identifies current trends affecting the health of a community; gathers information that can inform options for policies, programs and services and describes their implications. (1,2,3,8)

Utilize Legal and Regulatory Actions Designed to Improve and Protect the Public’s Health: Adheres to applicable guidance from the state and federal health departments relating to environmental health, immunizations and control of communicable diseases, including enforcement of isolation and quarantine measures; adheres to applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, toxic substances, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routine assignments or during public health emergencies; coordinates activities among and between other governmental agencies that enforce laws and regulations that protect the public’s health. (3,4,5,6,8)

Assure an Effective System That Enables Equitable Access to the Individual Services and Care Needed to be Healthy: Promotes and provides population-based health services; sets up and operates public health nursing clinics (ie-foot care, immunizations, cholesterol/diabetes screening, and fluoride varnish application); works with and at times provides program management for programs such as Communicable Disease, Immunizations, Lead, Maternal Child Health, Oral Health, Preparedness, Tuberculosis, and the Wisconsin Well Woman Program; travels to patients' homes to provide nursing care, client evaluation, referral and case management; arranges and participates in multi-disciplinary meetings or medical appointments as indicated for the individual, family or group; advocates on behalf of vulnerable individuals and populations; participates in assessing and evaluating health care services to ensure people are informed of available health department and community programs and services and are assisted in the utilization of those services. (1,2,3,4,6)

Build and Support a Diverse and Skilled Public Health Workforce: Provides leadership in the orientation and guidance of new staff members, volunteers and students; assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education and participating in professional committees and work groups; understands the diversity of La Crosse County residents; recognizes the influence of diversity in policies, programs and services; incorporate ethical standards of practice into all interactions. (4,6,8)

Improve and Innovate Public Health Functions Through Ongoing Evaluation, Research, and Continuous Quality Improvement: Assesses the effects of and evaluates policies, programs, and nursing services and makes recommendations for program enhancements; participates in Quality Improvement projects and uses Performance Management system to improve Department processes and impacts; uses public health sciences for policies, programs, services and research; collaborates in community-based participatory research. (2,4,5,6,8)

Build and Maintain a Strong Organizational Infrastructure for Public Health: Participates in the identifying and sharing of best practices; collaborates with community partners to identify innovative solutions to health problems. (1,3,6,8)

Customer Service: In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative and respectful with the public and clients; establishes and maintains courteous, cooperative and respectful relationship with other employees/supervisors, community partners and public officials.

Employee is expected to report to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave, to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.

The normal work week's hours may be modified to include evening, weekend and holiday rotations as needed for communicable disease case management, emergency preparedness response activities, or to meet other urgent needs in service of protecting the public.

RELATED JOB FUNCTIONS:
This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.

Physical demands: Uses near and far vision, stands, walks and moves to and around patients' homes and nursing clinics; uses hands for delivering personal care and performing nursing procedures; reads, writes, uses computer and sits at desk up to 75% of time; uses nursing-related equipment such as scales, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, glucometer, syringes; bends and stoops; lifts and carries equipment; kneels or sits on floor or stool (foot care); occasionally pushes and pulls patients weighing up to 200 pounds; tasks may involve exposure to blood/bodily fluids. Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions (ie-snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity). Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of professional nursing techniques, current Nurse Practice Act and related WI State Statutes and Administrative Code.
General knowledge of community health nursing: communicable disease, childhood lead, public health preparedness and the ability to provide immunizations.
General knowledge of community resources and their roles and functions.
Ability to work and communicate with patients of a variety of socio-economic levels and to provide culturally competent care.
Ability to follow precise oral and written medical instructions and complete charting paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, effectively prioritizes responsibilities, and makes sound nursing judgments.
Training, Experience and Other Requirements
Requires Bachelor's Degree from an accredited nursing program.
Current Wisconsin Registered Nurse license.
Strong preference for experience in maternal child health, immunizations, communicable disease investigation, coalition building, and program management. Preference for work or internship experience in a community health or governmental public health setting.
Possess a valid driver's license and access to personal transportation (or access to other reliable means of transportation for county-wide travel) and carry indicated insurance on the automobile.
Proficient in computer skills for charting, tracking and reporting.